Siemens trial to start in Athens on Feb 24

The trial of dozens of suspects in the Siemens cash-for-contracts scandal is to begin on February 24 next year, according to a court decision made public on Tuesday.

The case went to court this summer, some 10 years after judicial authorities launched an investigation into claims that the German electronics and engineering giant’s Greek branch bribed local politicians and public officials to secure state contracts.

But, in response to appeals by French- and German-speaking defendants, the court postponed the proceedings to allow for the translation of the charge sheet, which runs to more than 4,500 pages, and important documents relating to the case which had not been translated into German and French.

According to judicial sources, the trial date was set after the translation had been completed.